Timing of rift reports not right: Sunil Gavaskar

London: Amid speculation of a rift between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble, former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Wednesday said it was impossible for a captain and coach to always be on the same page on all cricketing issues.

“You will never have a situation where a captain and coach will always be on the same page. It cannot happen because the coach is invariably somebody who has played in an earlier generation, so their attitude will always be slightly different,” Gavaskar said.

The legendary opener also felt that the coach should have a long term vision. “I don’t think this should be taken seriously, this kind of discussion is in fact healthy. A coach should be somebody who is good for Indian cricket. He should have a vision for Indian cricket which would carry Indian cricket forward for the next eight to 10 years,” Gavaskar said. Gavaskar also questioned veracity of the reports.

“I’m not sure whether these reports of a rift between Kumble and Kohli are true or not but the timing of this is certainly not right. We have such a big game, which would decide how the India team will do in the tournament,” he said.

“Off days, when there is no cricket happening, are the ones the India cricket team dread the most, that is when such reports come out because there is no actual cricket to cover,” Gavaskar said.

The veteran however sidestepped the a query where he was asked as to how a rift like this should be handled.

“It is hard for me to say how it should be resolved. I hope better sense prevails because nobody is bigger than the game and I think Indian cricket has got to be no. 1 priority. We can all differ on how that but as long as our heart beats for Indian cricket, I think we should encourage,” he said.

Gavaskar was all praise for Kumble’s track record as a coach.

“Kumble has done a very good job as coach. I am simply going by the results and when you go by the results of last year, you can say he has done nothing wrong.”

Gavaskar hoped that the Cricket Advisory Committee (Sachin, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman) would be able to speak to the skipper and coach.

“They have played with Anil and they will get the respect and will be heard by both Virat and Anil. These three have nothing but the interest of Indian cricket at heart.”